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Cost of gas the year you started driving

Cost of gas the year you started driving

Since the introduction of Henry Ford’s Model T in the early 20th-century, cars and driving have become synonymous with American industry and culture. With over 800 cars on the road for every 1,000 Americans, our wheels have become more than just a way to get from A to B, but a way to shape and define our identity. But for nearly every mile driven, American consumers find themselves inextricably linked to a complex global commodity that can have major impact on the cost of crusing—that being fuel. While gasoline prices have been relatively reasonable as of late, it wasn’t long ago that Americans were trading in their H2 Hummers to avoid paying exorbitantly high gas prices, let alone waiting in line for hours at the pump in times of severe shortages.

So how has the price of gas changed throughout the years? To see when fuel was dirt cheap, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gas throughout the last 82 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976-2018 along with the CPI for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937-1976, including both the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

2/Rob // Flickr

1937

Absolute gas price: $0.19

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.22 (#10 most expensive year in 82-year span)

3/dok1 // Flickr

1938

Absolute gas price: $0.18

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.18 (#13 most expensive year in 82-year span)

4/Missouri State Archives // Flickr

1939

Absolute gas price: $0.17

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.95 (#16 most expensive year in 82-year span)

5/Orange County Archives // Flickr

1940

Absolute gas price: $0.16

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.69 (#29 most expensive year in 82-year span)

6/Kulsea, Bill; Shawver, Tom // Wikicommons

1941

Absolute gas price: $0.17

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.67 (#30 most expensive year in 82-year span)

7/Klaus Nahr // Wikicommons

1942

Absolute gas price: $0.18

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.66 (#31 most expensive year in 82-year span)

8/The U.S. National Archives

1943

Absolute gas price: $0.19

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.54 (#48 most expensive year in 82-year span)

9/Fylkesarkivet i Sogn og Fjordane // Flickr

1944

Absolute gas price: $0.19

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.42 (#56 most expensive year in 82-year span)

10/The U.S. National Archives

1945

Absolute gas price: $0.19

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.29 (#60 most expensive year in 82-year span)

11/Jet Lowe // Wikicommons

1946

Absolute gas price: $0.19

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.22 (#64 most expensive year in 82-year span)

12/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration // Wikicommons

1947

Absolute gas price: $0.21

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.39 (#57 most expensive year in 82-year span)

13/Rob // Flickr

1948

Absolute gas price: $0.24

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.54 (#49 most expensive year in 82-year span)

14/Bureau of Public Roads // Wikicommons

1949

Absolute gas price: $0.25

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.63 (#36 most expensive year in 82-year span)

15/Bruce Robinson // Wikicommons

1950

Absolute gas price: $0.25

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.57 (#44 most expensive year in 82-year span)

16/Wystan // Flickr

1951

Absolute gas price: $0.26

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.45 (#55 most expensive year in 82-year span)

17/NRMA Motoring and Services // Wikicommons

1952

Absolute gas price: $0.26

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.46 (#53 most expensive year in 82-year span)

18/Francisco Diez // Wikicommons

1953

Absolute gas price: $0.28

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.60 (#39 most expensive year in 82-year span)

19/Los Angeles Daily News // Wikicommons

1954

Absolute gas price: $0.28

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.63 (#35 most expensive year in 82-year span)

20/Ronnie // Wikicommons

1955

Absolute gas price: $0.29

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.70 (#26 most expensive year in 82-year span)

21/army.arch // Flickr

1956

Absolute gas price: $0.30

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.75 (#22 most expensive year in 82-year span)

22/SMU Central University Libraries // Wikicommons

1957

Absolute gas price: $0.31

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.76 (#21 most expensive year in 82-year span)

23/Toronto History // Wikicommons

1958

Absolute gas price: $0.31

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.65 (#33 most expensive year in 82-year span)

24/San Francisco Municipal Railway // Wikicommons

1959

Absolute gas price: $0.31

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.65 (#32 most expensive year in 82-year span)

25/Unknown // Wikicommons

1960

Absolute gas price: $0.32

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.69 (#28 most expensive year in 82-year span)

26/Alexandra Studio // Wikicommons

1961

Absolute gas price: $0.32

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.64 (#34 most expensive year in 82-year span)

27/White House Archives

1962

Absolute gas price: $0.32

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.62 (#37 most expensive year in 82-year span)

28/CZmarlin // Wikicommons

1963

Absolute gas price: $0.32

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.59 (#40 most expensive year in 82-year span)

29/Craig Howell // Flickr

1964

Absolute gas price: $0.32

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.54 (#47 most expensive year in 82-year span)

30/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration // Wikicommons

1965

Absolute gas price: $0.33

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.62 (#38 most expensive year in 82-year span)

31/Orange County Archives // Flickr

1966

Absolute gas price: $0.34

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.58 (#43 most expensive year in 82-year span)

32/manhhai // Flickr

1967

Absolute gas price: $0.35

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.58 (#41 most expensive year in 82-year span)

33/The Library of Congress // Flickr

1968

Absolute gas price: $0.35

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.51 (#50 most expensive year in 82-year span)

34/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration // Wikicommons

1969

Absolute gas price: $0.36

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.46 (#52 most expensive year in 82-year span)

35/Keystone Features/Getty Images

1970

Absolute gas price: $0.36

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.35 (#58 most expensive year in 82-year span)

36/David Falconer // Wikicommons

1971

Absolute gas price: $0.37

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.26 (#61 most expensive year in 82-year span)

37/The Library of Congress // Wikicommons

1972

Absolute gas price: $0.37

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.22 (#65 most expensive year in 82-year span)

38/Orange County Archives // Flickr

1973

Absolute gas price: $0.41

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.29 (#59 most expensive year in 82-year span)

39/David Falconer // Wikicommons

1974

Absolute gas price: $0.55

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.79 (#19 most expensive year in 82-year span)

40/Lyntha Scott Eiler // Wikicommons

1975

Absolute gas price: $0.59

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.74 (#23 most expensive year in 82-year span)

41/Keene Public Library and the Historical Society of Cheshire County // Wikicommons

1976

Absolute gas price: $0.61

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.69 (#27 most expensive year in 82-year span)

42/David Falconer // Wikicommons

1977

Absolute gas price: $0.66

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.70 (#25 most expensive year in 82-year span)

43/Unknown // Wikicommons

1978

Absolute gas price: $0.67

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.57 (#45 most expensive year in 82-year span)

44/Warren K. Leffler // Wikicommons

1979

Absolute gas price: $0.90

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.10 (#15 most expensive year in 82-year span)

45/The Library of Congress // Wikicommons

1980

Absolute gas price: $1.25

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.77 (#6 most expensive year in 82-year span)

46/Enar Nordvik // Wikicommons

1981

Absolute gas price: $1.38

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.78 (#4 most expensive year in 82-year span)

47/Enar Nordvik // Wikicommons

1982

Absolute gas price: $1.30

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.35 (#9 most expensive year in 82-year span)

48/Steven C. Price // Wikicommons

1983

Absolute gas price: $1.24

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.11 (#14 most expensive year in 82-year span)

49/Ben Brooksbank // Wikicommons

1984

Absolute gas price: $1.21

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.91 (#18 most expensive year in 82-year span)

50/Corley Services

1985

Absolute gas price: $1.20

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.79 (#20 most expensive year in 82-year span)

51/Phillip Pessar // Flickr

1986

Absolute gas price: $0.93

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.11 (#68 most expensive year in 82-year span)

52/Eric Chan // Wikicommons

1987

Absolute gas price: $0.95

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.08 (#70 most expensive year in 82-year span)

53/Dirtyharry667 // Wikicommons

1988

Absolute gas price: $0.95

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.00 (#74 most expensive year in 82-year span)

54/Joehawkins // Wikicommons

1989

Absolute gas price: $1.02

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.06 (#72 most expensive year in 82-year span)

55/Jonas Jordan, United States Army Corps of Engineers // Wikicommons

1990

Absolute gas price: $1.16

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.22 (#63 most expensive year in 82-year span)

56/Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikicommons

1991

Absolute gas price: $1.14

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.09 (#69 most expensive year in 82-year span)

57/Ed Schipul // Flickr

1992

Absolute gas price: $1.13

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.00 (#73 most expensive year in 82-year span)

58/Fuel Forecourt

1993

Absolute gas price: $1.11

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.91 (#77 most expensive year in 82-year span)

59/Anthony Inswasty // Wikicommons

1994

Absolute gas price: $1.11

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.87 (#80 most expensive year in 82-year span)

60/Wikicommons

1995

Absolute gas price: $1.15

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.88 (#79 most expensive year in 82-year span)

61/CLAUDIO ALMARZA/AFP/Getty Images

1996

Absolute gas price: $1.23

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.96 (#75 most expensive year in 82-year span)

62/TheJosh // Wikicommons

1997

Absolute gas price: $1.23

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.92 (#76 most expensive year in 82-year span)

63/Coolcaesar // Wikicommons

1998

Absolute gas price: $1.06

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.62 (#82 most expensive year in 82-year span)

64/Tyndall.af

1999

Absolute gas price: $1.17

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.75 (#81 most expensive year in 82-year span)

65/The Library of Congress // Wikicommons

2000

Absolute gas price: $1.51

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.19 (#66 most expensive year in 82-year span)

66/127driver // Wikicommons

2001

Absolute gas price: $1.46

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.06 (#71 most expensive year in 82-year span)

67/Franco Folini // Flickr

2002

Absolute gas price: $1.36

Inflation-adjusted price: $1.88 (#78 most expensive year in 82-year span)

68/Lunarsurface // Wikicommons

2003

Absolute gas price: $1.59

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.16 (#67 most expensive year in 82-year span)

69/Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine // Flickr

2004

Absolute gas price: $1.88

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.48 (#51 most expensive year in 82-year span)

70/Pxhere

2005

Absolute gas price: $2.30

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.93 (#17 most expensive year in 82-year span)

71/Coolcaesar // Wikicommons

2006

Absolute gas price: $2.59

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.20 (#11 most expensive year in 82-year span)

72/Carolyn Coles

2007

Absolute gas price: $2.80

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.37 (#8 most expensive year in 82-year span)

73/Wikicommons

2008

Absolute gas price: $3.27

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.79 (#3 most expensive year in 82-year span)

74/Edwards.af

2009

Absolute gas price: $2.35

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.73 (#24 most expensive year in 82-year span)

75/Naotake Murayama // Wikicommons

2010

Absolute gas price: $2.79

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.19 (#12 most expensive year in 82-year span)

76/Daniel Christensen // Wikicommons

2011

Absolute gas price: $3.53

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.91 (#2 most expensive year in 82-year span)

77/Anthony92931 // Wikicommons

2012

Absolute gas price: $3.64

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.96 (#1 most expensive year in 82-year span)

78/Michael Rivera // Wikicommons

2013

Absolute gas price: $3.53

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.78 (#5 most expensive year in 82-year span)

79/Richard Hurd // Flickr

2014

Absolute gas price: $3.37

Inflation-adjusted price: $3.55 (#7 most expensive year in 82-year span)

80/Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine // Flickr

2015

Absolute gas price: $2.45

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.58 (#42 most expensive year in 82-year span)

81/Michael Rivera // Wikicommons

2016

Absolute gas price: $2.14

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.23 (#62 most expensive year in 82-year span)

82/Michael Rivera // Wikicommons

2017

Absolute gas price: $2.41

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.46 (#54 most expensive year in 82-year span)

83/Chris Yarzab // Flickr

2018

Absolute gas price: $2.56

Inflation-adjusted price: $2.56 (#46 most expensive year in 82-year span)